Device and Method of Monitoring Same

ABSTRACT

In one implementation, a casket lowering system is configured to enable the lowering of a casket into a grave and includes: a casket support system configured to support the casket and temporarily suspend the casket above the grave; an electrically-actuated brake assembly coupled to the casket support system and configured to control the rate of descent of the casket support system into the grave; and a rechargeable power source electrically coupled to the electrically-actuated brake assembly and configured to provide electrical energy to the electrically-actuated brake assembly.

RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.63/187,829, filed on 12 May 2021, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to devices and methods of monitoring the sameand, more particularly, to mortuary devices and methods of monitoringthe same.

BACKGROUND

Casket lowering system are utilized by cemetery personal to lowercaskets into graves. These devices may be portable, thus allowing themto be transported to gravesites, where they are set up, utilized, andthen broken down and removed. Often, these casket lowering systems arepowered by household current (thus requiring the use of generators orextensions cords) or manually operated (thus requiring the use of handcranks).

Unfortunately and due to the portable nature of these casket loweringsystems, the immediate location of these systems may not be known oreasily discernible. Further, the maintenance so such systems may oftenbe overlooked due to e.g., the inability to accurately track usage.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

Casket Lowering System

In one implementation, a casket lowering system is configured to enablethe lowering of a casket into a grave and includes: a casket supportsystem configured to support the casket and temporarily suspend thecasket above the grave; an electrically-actuated brake assembly coupledto the casket support system and configured to control the rate ofdescent of the casket support system into the grave; and a rechargeablepower source electrically coupled to the electrically-actuated brakeassembly and configured to provide electrical energy to theelectrically-actuated brake assembly.

One or more of the following features may be included. The casketsupport system may include a plurality of strap assemblies. The casketsupport system may include one or more spool assemblies around which theplurality of strap assemblies are wound. The electrically-actuated brakeassembly may be configured to control the rate at which the spoolassemblies rotate and the strap assemblies unwind from the spoolassemblies. A winding assembly may be configured to enable the windingof the plurality of strap assemblies around the one or more spoolassemblies. The winding assembly may be configured to be actuated by anelectric motor assembly. The winding assembly may be configured to beactuated by a hand crank assembly. The electrically-actuated brakeassembly may be a friction-based, electrically-actuated brake assembly.The electrically-actuated brake assembly may be anelectromagnetic-based, electrically-actuated brake assembly. Theelectrically-actuated brake assembly may include a manual releaseassembly. The rechargeable power source may include a detachable batteryassembly. The electrically-actuated brake assembly may be configured toreceive an input signal that controls the rate of descent of the casketinto a grave.

In another implementation, a casket lowering system is configured toenable the lowering of a casket into a grave and includes: a casketsupport system configured to support the casket and temporarily suspendthe casket above the grave, the casket support system including: aplurality of strap assemblies, and one or more spool assemblies aroundwhich the plurality of strap assemblies are wound; anelectrically-actuated brake assembly coupled to the casket supportsystem and configured to control the rate of descent of the casketsupport system into the grave; and a rechargeable power sourceelectrically coupled to the electrically-actuated brake assembly andconfigured to provide electrical energy to the electrically-actuatedbrake assembly.

One or more of the following features may be included. Theelectrically-actuated brake assembly may be configured to control therate at which the spool assemblies rotate and the strap assembliesunwind from the spool assemblies. A winding assembly may be configuredto enable the winding of the plurality of strap assemblies around theone or more spool assemblies. The winding assembly may be configured tobe actuated by an electric motor assembly. The winding assembly may beconfigured to be actuated by a hand crank assembly. Theelectrically-actuated brake assembly may be a friction-based,electrically-actuated brake assembly. The electrically-actuated brakeassembly may be an electromagnetic-based, electrically-actuated brakeassembly. The electrically-actuated brake assembly may include a manualrelease assembly. The rechargeable power source may include a detachablebattery assembly. The electrically-actuated brake assembly may beconfigured to receive an input signal that controls the rate of descentof the casket into a grave.

In another implementation, a casket lowering system is configured toenable the lowering of a casket into a grave and includes: a casketsupport system configured to support the casket and temporarily suspendthe casket above the grave, the casket support system including: aplurality of strap assemblies, and one or more spool assemblies aroundwhich the plurality of strap assemblies are wound; anelectrically-actuated brake assembly coupled to the casket supportsystem and configured to control the rate of descent of the casketsupport system into the grave, wherein the electrically-actuated brakeassembly is configured to control the rate at which the spool assembliesrotate and the strap assemblies unwind from the spool assemblies; and arechargeable power source electrically coupled to theelectrically-actuated brake assembly and configured to provideelectrical energy to the electrically-actuated brake assembly.

One or more of the following features may be included. A windingassembly may be configured to enable the winding of the plurality ofstrap assemblies around the one or more spool assemblies. The windingassembly may be configured to be actuated by an electric motor assembly.The winding assembly may be configured to be actuated by a hand crankassembly. The electrically-actuated brake assembly may be afriction-based, electrically-actuated brake assembly. Theelectrically-actuated brake assembly may be an electromagnetic-based,electrically-actuated brake assembly. The electrically-actuated brakeassembly may include a manual release assembly. The rechargeable powersource may include a detachable battery assembly.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features andadvantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, andthe claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a casket lowering system according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the casket lowering system of FIG. 1 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of an electrically-actuated brake assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a distributed computing networkincluding a computing device that executes a status monitoring processaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an implementation of the status monitoringprocess of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

System Overview

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, there is shown casket lowering system 10configured to enable the lowering of a casket (e.g., casket 12) into agrave (e.g., grave 14). Casket lowering system 10 may be configured tobe easily transportable from gravesite to gravesite. For example,cemetery workers (not shown) may first dig a grave (e.g., grave 14) andthen casket lowering system 10 may be positioned above grave 14. Thecasket (e.g., casket 12) may then be placed onto casket lowering system10 so that it may be lowered (in the direction of arrow 16) into grave14. Casket lowering system 10 may be constructed of any material thatprovides the requisite level of strength, while being light enough to betransportable (e.g., aluminum, composite plastic, carbon fiber).

Casket Lowering System

Casket lowering system 10 may include a casket support system (e.g.,casket support system 18) configured to support the casket (e.g., casket12) and temporarily suspend the casket (e.g., casket 12) above the grave(e.g., grave 14). The casket support system (e.g., casket support system18) may include a plurality of strap assemblies (e.g., strap assemblies20, 22). The plurality of strap assemblies (e.g., strap assemblies 20,22) may be constructed of any material that provides the requisite levelof strength and flexibility (e.g., nylon, canvas). Additionally, thecasket support system (e.g., casket support system 18) may include oneor more spool assemblies (e.g., spool assemblies 24, 26) around whichthe plurality of strap assemblies (e.g., strap assemblies 20, 22) arewound.

Casket lowering system 10 may include an electrically-actuated brakeassembly coupled to the casket support system (e.g., casket supportsystem 18) and configured to control the rate of descent of the casketsupport system (e.g., casket support system 18) into the grave (e.g.,grave 14). In this particular embodiment, the electrically-actuatedbrake assembly is shown to include two discrete electrically-actuatedbrake assemblies (e.g., electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30),wherein (in this particular example) electrically-actuated brakeassembly 28 is shown to be coupled to (and therefore control) spoolassembly 24, while electrically-actuated brake assembly 30 is shown tobe coupled to (and therefore control) spool assembly 26. However, thisis for illustrative purpose only, as other configurations are possibleand are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. Forexample, a single electrically-actuated brake assembly may be coupled toand utilized to control both of spool assemblies 24, 26.

As casket (e.g., casket 12) is positioned on the strap assemblies (e.g.,strap assemblies 20, 22) of casket support system (e.g., casket supportsystem 18) and the strap assemblies (e.g., strap assemblies 20, 22) arewound around spool assemblies 24, 26, in the event that spool assemblies24, 26 are allowed to freely rotate (e.g., in the direction of arrows32, 34 respectively), gravity will pull casket 12 downward (in thedirection of arrow 16) into grave 14.

Accordingly and through the use of electrically-actuated brakeassemblies 28, 30, the rotation of spool assemblies 24, 26 (and,therefore, the unwinding of strap assemblies 20, 22) may be controlled.Further and by modulating the rate at which spool assemblies 24, 26 areallowed to rotate (e.g., in the direction of arrows 32, 34respectively), the rate at which strap assemblies 20, 22 unwind may becontrolled, thus allowing for the controlling of the rate of descent ofcasket 12 into grave 14.

Accordingly, the electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g.,electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in this illustrativeexample) may be configured to control the rate of descent of casket 12into grave 14. However and while this particular example concernscontrolling the rate of descent of casket 12 into grave 14, this is forillustrative purposes only and is not intended to be a limitation ofthis disclosure, as other configurations are possible and are consideredto be within the scope of this disclosure.

For example, the electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g.,electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in this illustrativeexample) may be configured to control the rate of descent of a repeller(e.g., repeller 36). For example, such an electrically-actuated brakeassembly (e.g., electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in thisillustrative example) may be configured to control the rate at whichpeople (e.g., EMTs, search & rescue personnel, military personnel) repelfrom e.g., a helicopter (not shown).

Additionally/alternatively, the electrically-actuated brake assembly(e.g., electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in thisillustrative example) may be configured to control the rate of descentof a static load (e.g., static load 38). For example, such anelectrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuated brakeassemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example) may be configured tocontrol the rate at which cargo (e.g., food, supplies, medicine,weapons) may be lowered from e.g., a helicopter (not shown).

Referring also to FIG. 3, the electrically-actuated brake assembly(e.g., electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in thisillustrative example) may include one or more rotatable surfaces (e.g.,rotatable surfaces 52) coupled to the object to be lowered (e.g., casket12 into grave 14). For example, rotatable surfaces 52 may be diskassemblies covered with a high friction material (such as the frictionmaterial found on automotive brake pads), wherein rotatable surfaces 52may be coupled to rotatable shaft 54. Rotatable shaft 54 may be coupledto spool assemblies 24, 26, which (as discussed above) control theunwinding of strap assemblies 20, 22 and, therefore, the lowering ofcasket 12 into grave 14.

The electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuatedbrake assemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example) may also includeone or more stationary surfaces (e.g., stationary surfaces 56)configured to releasably engage the one or more rotatable surfaces(e.g., rotatable surfaces 52). For example, stationary surfaces 56 maybe disk assemblies covered with a high friction material (such as thefriction material found on automotive brake pads), wherein stationarysurfaces 56 may be coupled to housing assembly 58 of theelectrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuated brakeassemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example). As stationary surfaces56 (in this example) are coupled to housing assembly 58 of theelectrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuated brakeassemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example), stationary surfaces 56do not rotate.

The one or more rotatable surfaces (e.g., rotatable surfaces 52) and theone or more stationary surfaces (e.g., stationary surfaces 56) may beconfigured to be normally engaged via a mechanical engagement system(e.g., mechanical engagement system 60). An example of such a mechanicalengagement system (e.g., mechanical engagement system 60) may includebut is not limited to spring-based mechanical engagement systems (e.g.,spring-based mechanical engagement systems 62, 64). In this particularembodiment, spring-based mechanical engagement systems 62, 64 may becoupled (on a first end) to housing assembly 58 of theelectrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuated brakeassemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example) and (on a second end) toplate assembly 66. Accordingly, spring-based mechanical engagementsystems 62, 64 may be configured to bias plate assembly 66 in thedirection or arrows 68, 70 (respectively), thus compressing the variousrotatable surfaces (e.g., rotatable surfaces 52) and stationary surfaces(e.g., stationary surfaces 56) together, thus preventing the rotation ofrotatable surfaces 52 (as rotatable surfaces 52 are in contactwith/locked to stationary surfaces 56, which are coupled to housingassembly 58 of the electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g.,electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in this illustrativeexample). Accordingly, electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g.,electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in this illustrativeexample) may be a friction-based, electrically-actuated brake assembly.

The electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuatedbrake assemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example) may include anelectric actuator system (e.g., electric actuator system 72) configuredto selectively disengage the one or more stationary surfaces (e.g.,stationary surfaces 56) from the one or more rotatable surfaces (e.g.,rotatable surfaces 52), thus allowing the one or more rotatable surfaces(e.g., rotatable surfaces 52) to rotate with respect to the one or morestationary surfaces (e.g., stationary surfaces 56) and enable the objectto be lowered (e.g., the lowering of casket 12 into grave 14). Anexample of electric actuator system 72 may include but is not limited toa solenoid-based, electric actuator system.

The electric actuator system (e.g., electric actuator system 72) may beconfigured to overcome the mechanical bias (in the direction or arrows68, 70) of the mechanical engagement system (e.g., mechanical engagementsystem 60). For example and when actuated, the electric actuator system(e.g., electric actuator system 72) may apply mechanical bias (in thedirection of arrow 74), wherein this mechanical bias (in the directionof arrow 74) may be of sufficient force to overcome the mechanical bias(in the direction or arrows 68, 70) of the mechanical engagement system(e.g., mechanical engagement system 60). Further and by modulating themechanical bias (in the direction of arrow 74) applied by electricactuator system 72, the rotational speed of rotatable shaft 54 (and,therefore, spool assemblies 24, 26) may be modulated (anywhere betweenlocked/no rotation to freewheeling).

Accordingly and through the use of electric actuator system 72,electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuated brakeassemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example) may be anelectromagnetic-based, electrically-actuated brake assembly, whereinelectrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuated brakeassemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example) may be configured toreceive an input signal (e.g., input signal 76) that controls the rateof descent of an object (e.g., casket 12 into grave 14). Input signal 76may be a fixed signal that is intended to lower the object (e.g., casket12 into grave 14) at a fixed rate or a variable signal that is intendedto lower the object (e.g., casket 12 into grave 14) at a variable rate.Input signal 76 may be provided by hand controller 78 usable by user 80.

The electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuatedbrake assemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example) may include arechargeable power source (e.g., rechargeable power source 82)electrically coupled to the electric actuator system (e.g., electricactuator system 72) and/or the electrically-actuated brake assembly(e.g., electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in thisillustrative example) and configured to provide electrical energy to thesame (e.g., electric actuator system 72 and/or electrically-actuatedbrake assemblies 28, 30). An example of such a rechargeable power source(e.g., rechargeable power source 82) may include but is not limited to adetachable battery assembly (e.g., a lithium-ion battery pack).

The electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g., electrically-actuatedbrake assemblies 28, 30 in this illustrative example) may include amanual release assembly (e.g., manual release assembly 84). An exampleof manual release assembly 84 may include but is not limited to a leverthat (when actuated in the direction of arrow 86) moves plate assembly66 in the direction of arrow 74, thus disengaging the various rotatablesurfaces (e.g., rotatable surfaces 52) from the stationary surfaces(e.g., stationary surfaces 56), thus allowing the rotation of rotatablesurfaces 52 and rotatable shaft 54. As rotatable shaft 54 (in thisexample) is coupled to spool assemblies 24, 26, which (as discussedabove) control the unwinding of strap assemblies 20, 22, manipulation ofthe manual release assembly (e.g., manual release assembly 84) may allowfor the lowering of casket 12 into grave 14 even if no electrical energyis available.

Casket lowering system 10 may include a winding assembly (e.g., windingassembly 88) configured to enable the winding of the plurality of strapassemblies (e.g., strap assemblies 20, 22) around the one or more spoolassemblies (e.g., spool assemblies 24, 26). For example, once casket 12is fully lowered into grave 14, the strap assemblies (e.g., strapassemblies 20, 22) should be rewound onto one or more of the spoolassemblies (e.g., spool assemblies 24, 26). Accordingly, windingassembly (e.g., winding assembly 88) may enable such a rewindingoperation. The winding assembly (e.g., winding assembly 88) may beconfigured to be actuated by an electric motor assembly (e.g., electricmotor assembly 90) when automated winding is desired. Electric motorassembly 90 may be provided with electrical energy by the rechargeablepower source (e.g., rechargeable power source 82).Additionally/alternatively, the winding assembly (e.g., winding assembly88) may be configured to be actuated by a hand crank assembly (e.g.,hand crank assembly 92) when manual winding is desired, which may allowfor such rewinding even if no electrical energy is available.

Status Monitoring System

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown status monitoring process 100.Status monitoring process 100 may be configured to monitor the status ofcasket lowering system 10 and/or other mortuary devices (e.g., embalmingmachine 94).

Status monitoring process 100 may be implemented as a server-sideprocess, a client-side process, or a hybrid server-side/client-sideprocess. For example, status monitoring process 100 may be implementedas a purely server-side process via status monitoring process 100 s.Alternatively, status monitoring process 100 may be implemented as apurely client-side process via one or more of status monitoring process100 c 1, status monitoring process 100 c 2, status monitoring process100 c 3, and status monitoring process 100 c 4. Alternatively still,status monitoring process 100 may be implemented as a hybridserver-side/client-side process via status monitoring process 100 s incombination with one or more of status monitoring process 100 c 1,status monitoring process 100 c 2, status monitoring process 100 c 3,and status monitoring process 100 c 4. Accordingly, status monitoringprocess 100 as used in this disclosure may include any combination ofstatus monitoring process 100 s, status monitoring process 100 c 1,status monitoring process 100 c 2, status monitoring process, and statusmonitoring process 100 c 4.

Status monitoring process 100 s may be a server application and mayreside on and may be executed by computing device 102, which may beconnected to network 104 (e.g., the Internet or a local area network).Examples of computing device 102 may include, but are not limited to: apersonal computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, adata-enabled cellular telephone, a notebook computer, a television withone or more processors embedded therein or coupled thereto, acable/satellite receiver with one or more processors embedded therein orcoupled thereto, a server computer, a series of server computers, a minicomputer, a mainframe computer, or a cloud-based computing network.

The instruction sets and subroutines of status monitoring process 100 s,which may be stored on storage device 106 coupled to computing device102, may be executed by one or more processors (not shown) and one ormore memory architectures (not shown) included within computing device102. Examples of storage device 106 may include but are not limited to:a hard disk drive; a RAID device; a random-access memory (RAM); aread-only memory (ROM); and all forms of flash memory storage devices.

Network 104 may be connected to one or more secondary networks (e.g.,network 108), examples of which may include but are not limited to: alocal area network; a wide area network; or an intranet, for example.

Examples of status monitoring processes 100 c 1, 100 c 2, 100 c 3, 100 c4 may include but are not limited to a client application, a webbrowser, a game console user interface, or a specialized application(e.g., an application running on e.g., the Android™ platform or the iOSplatform). The instruction sets and subroutines of status monitoringprocesses 100 c 1, 100 c 2, 100 c 3, 100 c 4, which may be stored onstorage devices 110, 112, 114, 116 (respectively) coupled to clientelectronic devices 118, 120, 122, 124 (respectively), may be executed byone or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures(not shown) incorporated into client electronic devices 118, 120, 122,124 (respectively). Examples of storage devices 110, 112, 114, 116 mayinclude but are not limited to: a hard disk drive; a RAID device; arandom access memory (RAM); a read-only memory (ROM); and all forms offlash memory storage devices.

Examples of client electronic devices 118, 120, 122, 124 may include,but are not limited to, data-enabled, cellular telephone 118, laptopcomputer 120, personal digital assistant 122, personal computer 124, anotebook computer (not shown), a server computer (not shown), a gamingconsole (not shown), a smart television (not shown), and a dedicatednetwork device (not shown). Client electronic devices 118, 120, 122, 124may each execute an operating system, examples of which may include butare not limited to Microsoft Windows™, Android™, WebOS™, iOS™, RedhatLinux™, or a custom operating system.

Users 126, 128, 130, 132 may access status monitoring process 100directly through network 104 or through secondary network 108. Further,status monitoring process 100 may be connected to network 104 throughsecondary network 108, as illustrated with link line 134.

The various client electronic devices (e.g., client electronic devices118, 120, 122, 124) may be directly or indirectly coupled to network 104(or network 108). For example, data-enabled, cellular telephone 118 andlaptop computer 120 are shown wirelessly coupled to network 104 viawireless communication channels 136, 138 (respectively) establishedbetween data-enabled, cellular telephone 118, laptop computer 120(respectively) and cellular network/bridge 140, which is shown directlycoupled to network 104. Further, personal digital assistant 122 is shownwirelessly coupled to network 104 via wireless communication channel 142established between personal digital assistant 122 and wireless accesspoint (i.e., WAP) 144, which is shown directly coupled to network 104.Additionally, personal computer 124 is shown directly coupled to network108 via a hardwired network connection.

WAP 144 may be, for example, an IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n,Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth device that is capable of establishing wirelesscommunication channel 142 between personal digital assistant 122 and WAP144. As is known in the art, IEEE 802.11x specifications may useEthernet protocol and carrier sense multiple access with collisionavoidance (i.e., CSMA/CA) for path sharing. The various 802.11xspecifications may use phase-shift keying (i.e., PSK) modulation orcomplementary code keying (i.e., CCK) modulation, for example. As isknown in the art, Bluetooth is a telecommunications industryspecification that allows e.g., mobile phones, computers, and personaldigital assistants to be interconnected using a short-range wirelessconnection.

Referring also to FIG. 5, status monitoring process 100 may establish200 wireless connectivity with a mortuary device (e.g., one or more ofmortuary devices 146). Examples of mortuary devices 146 may include butare not limited to casket lowering system 10 and embalming machine 94.Status monitoring process 100 may receive 202 status information (e.g.,status information 148) from the mortuary device (e.g., one or more ofmortuary devices 146) and may present 204 this status information (e.g.,status information 148) to a user (e.g., user 126). Assume for thisillustrative example that user 126 is an employee of a company thatprovides/maintains mortuary devices 146. Accordingly, such statusinformation (e.g., status information 148) may be of particular interestto user 126.

In one particular example, this status information (e.g., statusinformation 148) may concern the location of one or more of mortuarydevices 146. For example, each of mortuary devices 146 may include a GPStracking device (e.g., GPS tracking device 150) that provides locationinformation concerning the mortuary device. As is known in the art, aGPS tracking device (e.g., GPS tracking device 150), also known as a GPStracking unit/a geotracking unit/a tracker, is a navigational devicecoupled to a vehicle, asset, person or animal that uses the GlobalPositioning System (GPS) to determine its movement and location. GPStracking devices (e.g., GPS tracking device 150) may generate locationinformation that may be processed by a receiver. For example, locationinformation may be stored within the GPS tracking device (e.g., GPStracking device 150) and/or may be transmitted to an Internet-connecteddevice using a cellular network, a WiFi network or satellite network.

Additionally/alternatively, the status information (e.g., statusinformation 148) may concern one or more of: the charge state of therechargeable power source; the charge cycles of the rechargeable powersource; the age of the rechargeable power source; the condition of therechargeable power source; quantity of lowering cycles of the casketlowering device; and the status of the electrically-actuated brakeassembly.

-   -   The Charge State of the Rechargeable Power Source: Status        monitoring process 100 may be configured to monitor the state of        charge of the rechargeable power source (e.g., rechargeable        power source 82) within mortuary devices 146 (e.g., casket        lowering system 10 and embalming machine 94). Accordingly, the        status information (e.g., status information 148) may inform the        user (e.g., user 126) that e.g., rechargeable power source 82        needs to be recharged.    -   The Charge Cycles of the Rechargeable Power Source: Status        monitoring process 100 may be configured to monitor the quantity        of charge cycles of the rechargeable power source (e.g.,        rechargeable power source 82) within mortuary devices 146 (e.g.,        casket lowering system 10 and embalming machine 94).        Accordingly, the status information (e.g., status information        148) may inform the user (e.g., user 126) that e.g.,        rechargeable power source 82 has been charged/discharged a        number of times that exceeds the anticipated lifespan of        rechargeable power source 82.    -   The Age of the Rechargeable Power Source: Status monitoring        process 100 may be configured to monitor the age of the        rechargeable power source (e.g., rechargeable power source 82)        within mortuary devices 146 (e.g., casket lowering system 10 and        embalming machine 94). Accordingly, the status information        (e.g., status information 148) may inform the user (e.g., user        126) that e.g., rechargeable power source 82 has been in use for        a period of time that exceeds the anticipated lifespan of        rechargeable power source 82.    -   The Condition of the Rechargeable Power Source: Status        monitoring process 100 may be configured to monitor the        condition of the rechargeable power source (e.g., rechargeable        power source 82) within mortuary devices 146 (e.g., casket        lowering system 10 and embalming machine 94). Accordingly, the        status information (e.g., status information 148) may inform the        user (e.g., user 126) that e.g., rechargeable power source 82 is        no longer capable of being charged to full capacity.    -   The Quantity of Lowering Cycles of the Casket Lowering Device:        Status monitoring process 100 may be configured to monitor the        number of lowering cycles that casket lowering system 10        performed. Accordingly, the status information (e.g., status        information 148) may enable the user to make decisions        concerning the servicing of wear components (e.g., strap        assemblies 20, 22, spool assemblies 24, 26, winding assembly 88,        electric motor assembly 90) within casket lowering system 10.    -   The Status of the Electrically-Actuated Brake Assembly: Status        monitoring process 100 may be configured to monitor the        status/condition of the electrically-actuated brake assembly        (e.g., electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in this        illustrative example). Accordingly, the status information        (e.g., status information 148) may enable the user to make        decisions concerning the servicing of wear components (e.g.,        rotatable surfaces 52, stationary surfaces 56, mechanical        engagement system 60, spring-based mechanical engagement systems        62, 64, electric actuator system 72) within the        electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g.,        electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in this        illustrative example).

Status monitoring process 100 may also generate 206 maintenanceinformation (e.g., maintenance information 152) based, at least in part,upon the status information (e.g., status information 148) of mortuarydevice 146 (e.g., casket lowering system 10, embalming machine 94),wherein status monitoring process 100 may present 208 this maintenanceinformation (e.g., maintenance information 152) to the user (e.g., user126).

Examples of this maintenance information (e.g., maintenance information152) may include but are not limited to maintenance recommendationsconcerning one or more of:

-   -   an electrically-actuated brake assembly (e.g.,        electrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30 in this        illustrative example), such as maintenance recommendations        concerning the repair/replacement of rotatable surfaces 52,        stationary surfaces 56, mechanical engagement system 60,        spring-based mechanical engagement systems 62, 64, and/or        electric actuator system 72;    -   a rechargeable power source (e.g., rechargeable power source        82), such as maintenance recommendations concerning the        repair/replacement of rechargeable power source 82; and    -   a casket support system (e.g., casket lowering system 10), such        as maintenance recommendations concerning the repair/replacement        of strap assemblies 20, 22, spool assemblies 24, 26, winding        assembly 88, electric motor assembly 90.

When generating 206 maintenance information (e.g., maintenanceinformation 152) based, at least in part, upon the status information(e.g., status information 148) of mortuary device 146 (e.g., casketlowering system 10, embalming machine 94), status monitoring process 100may utilize machine learning.

As is known in the art, a machine learning system or model may generallyinclude an algorithm or combination of algorithms that has been trainedto recognize certain types of patterns. For example, machine learningapproaches may be generally divided into three categories, depending onthe nature of the signal available: supervised learning, unsupervisedlearning, and reinforcement learning.

As is known in the art, supervised learning may include presenting acomputing device with example inputs and their desired outputs, given bya “teacher”, where the goal is to learn a general rule that maps inputsto outputs. With unsupervised learning, no labels are given to thelearning algorithm, leaving it on its own to find structure in itsinput. Unsupervised learning can be a goal in itself (discovering hiddenpatterns in data) or a means towards an end (feature learning). As isknown in the art, reinforcement learning may generally include acomputing device interacting in a dynamic environment in which it mustperform a certain goal (such as driving a vehicle or playing a gameagainst an opponent).

As it navigates its problem space, the program is provided feedbackthat's analogous to rewards, which it tries to maximize. While threeexamples of machine learning approaches have been provided, it will beappreciated that other machine learning approaches are possible withinthe scope of the present disclosure.

The maintenance information (e.g., maintenance information 152)generated by status monitoring process 100 may include one or more:maintenance recommendations concerning electrically-actuated brakeassemblies 28, 30, rechargeable power source 82 and/or casket loweringsystem 10; inspection recommendations concerning electrically-actuatedbrake assemblies 28, 30, rechargeable power source 82 and/or casketlowering system 10; and replacement recommendations concerningelectrically-actuated brake assemblies 28, 30, rechargeable power source82 and/or casket lowering system 10.

Maintenance Recommendations: As discussed above, status monitoringprocess 100 may generate 206 maintenance information (e.g., maintenanceinformation 152) based, at least in part, upon the status information(e.g., status information 148) of mortuary device 146 (e.g., casketlowering system 10, embalming machine 94). Accordingly and using such amachine learning process, status monitoring process 100 may processstatus information 148 to identify and extract maintenancepatterns/needs. For example, if status monitoring process 100 processesstatus information 148 and identifies a maintenance pattern of replacingrechargeable power source 82 after every 200 charge/discharge cycles,maintenance information 152 may recommend that the rechargeable powersource 82 be replaced every 200 charge/discharge cycles.

Inspection Recommendations: As discussed above, status monitoringprocess 100 may generate 206 maintenance information (e.g., maintenanceinformation 152) based, at least in part, upon the status information(e.g., status information 148) of mortuary device 146 (e.g., casketlowering system 10, embalming machine 94). Accordingly and using such amachine learning process, status monitoring process 100 may processstatus information 148 to identify and extract inspectionpatterns/needs. For example, if status monitoring process 100 processesstatus information 148 and identifies an inspection pattern ofinspecting rotatable surfaces 52 and stationary surfaces 56 after every50 hours of use, maintenance information 152 may recommend thatrotatable surfaces 52 and stationary surfaces 56 be inspected every 50hours.

Replacement Recommendations: As discussed above, status monitoringprocess 100 may generate 206 maintenance information (e.g., maintenanceinformation 152) based, at least in part, upon the status information(e.g., status information 148) of mortuary device 146 (e.g., casketlowering system 10, embalming machine 94). Accordingly and using such amachine learning process, status monitoring process 100 may processstatus information 148 to identify and extract replacementpatterns/needs. For example, if status monitoring process 100 processesstatus information 148 and identifies a replacement pattern of replacingrotatable surfaces 52 and stationary surfaces 56 after every 200 hoursof use, maintenance information 152 may recommend that rotatablesurfaces 52 and stationary surfaces 56 be replaced every 200 hours. Thismay be especially true if status monitoring process 100 processes statusinformation 148 and identifies a failure pattern wherein rotatablesurfaces 52 and stationary surfaces 56 are very likely to fail after 250hours of use.

General

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present disclosuremay be embodied as a method, a system, or a computer program product.Accordingly, the present disclosure may take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore,the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program producton a computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program codeembodied in the medium.

Any suitable computer usable or computer readable medium may beutilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, forexample but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device,or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) ofthe computer-readable medium may include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), anoptical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a transmission media such as those supportingthe Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Thecomputer-usable or computer-readable medium may also be paper or anothersuitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can beelectronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of thepaper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwiseprocessed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in acomputer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usable orcomputer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal with thecomputer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband oras part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may betransmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited tothe Internet, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentdisclosure may be written in an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer programcode for carrying out operations of the present disclosure may also bewritten in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the“C” programming language or similar programming languages. The programcode may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through a local area network/a widearea network/the Internet (e.g., network 14).

The present disclosure is described with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the disclosure. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, may be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer/special purposecomputer/other programmable data processing apparatus, such that theinstructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus, create means for implementingthe functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that may direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures may illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations,and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustrations, may be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the disclosure and the practical application, and toenable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosurefor various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

A number of implementations have been described. Having thus describedthe disclosure of the present application in detail and by reference toembodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications andvariations are possible without departing from the scope of thedisclosure defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A casket lowering system configured to enable thelowering of a casket into a grave, comprising: a casket support systemconfigured to support the casket and temporarily suspend the casketabove the grave; an electrically-actuated brake assembly coupled to thecasket support system and configured to control the rate of descent ofthe casket support system into the grave; and a rechargeable powersource electrically coupled to the electrically-actuated brake assemblyand configured to provide electrical energy to the electrically-actuatedbrake assembly.
 2. The casket lowering system of claim 1 wherein thecasket support system includes a plurality of strap assemblies.
 3. Thecasket lowering system of claim 2 wherein the casket support systemincludes one or more spool assemblies around which the plurality ofstrap assemblies are wound.
 4. The casket lowering system of claim 3wherein the electrically-actuated brake assembly is configured tocontrol the rate at which the spool assemblies rotate and the strapassemblies unwind from the spool assemblies.
 5. The casket loweringsystem of claim 3 further comprising: a winding assembly configured toenable the winding of the plurality of strap assemblies around the oneor more spool assemblies.
 6. The casket lowering system of claim 5wherein the winding assembly is configured to be actuated by an electricmotor assembly.
 7. The casket lowering system of claim 5 wherein thewinding assembly is configured to be actuated by a hand crank assembly.8. The casket lowering system of claim 1 wherein theelectrically-actuated brake assembly is a friction-based,electrically-actuated brake assembly.
 9. The casket lowering system ofclaim 1 wherein the electrically-actuated brake assembly is anelectromagnetic-based, electrically-actuated brake assembly.
 10. Thecasket lowering system of claim 1 wherein the electrically-actuatedbrake assembly includes a manual release assembly.
 11. The casketlowering system of claim 1 wherein the rechargeable power sourceincludes a detachable battery assembly.
 12. The casket lowering systemof claim 1 wherein the electrically-actuated brake assembly isconfigured to receive an input signal that controls the rate of descentof the casket into a grave.
 13. A casket lowering system configured toenable the lowering of a casket into a grave, comprising: a casketsupport system configured to support the casket and temporarily suspendthe casket above the grave, the casket support system including: aplurality of strap assemblies, and one or more spool assemblies aroundwhich the plurality of strap assemblies are wound; anelectrically-actuated brake assembly coupled to the casket supportsystem and configured to control the rate of descent of the casketsupport system into the grave; and a rechargeable power sourceelectrically coupled to the electrically-actuated brake assembly andconfigured to provide electrical energy to the electrically-actuatedbrake assembly.
 14. The casket lowering system of claim 13 wherein theelectrically-actuated brake assembly is configured to control the rateat which the spool assemblies rotate and the strap assemblies unwindfrom the spool assemblies.
 15. The casket lowering system of claim 13further comprising: a winding assembly configured to enable the windingof the plurality of strap assemblies around the one or more spoolassemblies.
 16. The casket lowering system of claim 15 wherein thewinding assembly is configured to be actuated by an electric motorassembly.
 17. The casket lowering system of claim 15 wherein the windingassembly is configured to be actuated by a hand crank assembly.
 18. Thecasket lowering system of claim 13 wherein the electrically-actuatedbrake assembly is a friction-based, electrically-actuated brakeassembly.
 19. The casket lowering system of claim 13 wherein theelectrically-actuated brake assembly is an electromagnetic-based,electrically-actuated brake assembly.
 20. The casket lowering system ofclaim 13 wherein the electrically-actuated brake assembly includes amanual release assembly.
 21. The casket lowering system of claim 13wherein the rechargeable power source includes a detachable batteryassembly.
 22. The casket lowering system of claim 13 wherein theelectrically-actuated brake assembly is configured to receive an inputsignal that controls the rate of descent of the casket into a grave. 23.A casket lowering system configured to enable the lowering of a casketinto a grave, comprising: a casket support system configured to supportthe casket and temporarily suspend the casket above the grave, thecasket support system including: a plurality of strap assemblies, andone or more spool assemblies around which the plurality of strapassemblies are wound; an electrically-actuated brake assembly coupled tothe casket support system and configured to control the rate of descentof the casket support system into the grave, wherein theelectrically-actuated brake assembly is configured to control the rateat which the spool assemblies rotate and the strap assemblies unwindfrom the spool assemblies; and a rechargeable power source electricallycoupled to the electrically-actuated brake assembly and configured toprovide electrical energy to the electrically-actuated brake assembly.24. The casket lowering system of claim 23 further comprising: a windingassembly configured to enable the winding of the plurality of strapassemblies around the one or more spool assemblies.
 25. The casketlowering system of claim 24 wherein the winding assembly is configuredto be actuated by an electric motor assembly.
 26. The casket loweringsystem of claim 24 wherein the winding assembly is configured to beactuated by a hand crank assembly.
 27. The casket lowering system ofclaim 23 wherein the electrically-actuated brake assembly is afriction-based, electrically-actuated brake assembly.
 28. The casketlowering system of claim 23 wherein the electrically-actuated brakeassembly is an electromagnetic-based, electrically-actuated brakeassembly.
 29. The casket lowering system of claim 23 wherein theelectrically-actuated brake assembly includes a manual release assembly.30. The casket lowering system of claim 23 wherein the rechargeablepower source includes a detachable battery assembly.